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Bribery Bill [HL]

3: Clause 10, page 7, line 2, at end insert— ““(6) Consent may not be given for the institution of proceedings under subsection (1) or (2) in respect of conduct which was specifically authorised in advance under the hand of— (a) the Secretary of State, or (b) a senior official, but only if the Secretary of State has expressly and personally authorised the giving of the authorisation and considers the case to be urgent, and a statement of those facts is endorsed on the authorisation. (7) An authorisation shall not be given for the purposes of subsection (6) unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the conduct is necessary for one of the functions stated in section 13(1). (8) An authorisation for the purposes of subsection (6) ceases to have effect— (a) at the end of the period of 6 months starting with the day on which it was given, if it was given under the hand of the Secretary of State, and (b) at the end of one week after the day on which it was given, if it was given under the hand of a senior official. (9) Subsection (8) does not apply if the authorisation is renewed under subsection (10) before the day on which it would otherwise cease to have effect. (10) The Secretary of State may renew an authorisation for a period of 6 months starting on the day on which it would otherwise cease to have effect if, at any time before that day, the Secretary of State considers it necessary for the authorisation to continue to have effect for the purpose for which it was given. (11) Subsection (10) may apply more than once. (12) A renewal under subsection (10) must be made under the hand of the Secretary of State. (13) The Secretary of State must cancel an authorisation if he is satisfied that an act or omission authorised by virtue of it is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was given. (14) For the purposes of this section, ““senior official”” has the meaning given by section 81 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.””